This information is for orientation only. Working beyond Aufenthaltstitel limits can lead to permit revocation. Verify with Ausländerbehörde and your international office.
Student work roadmap
- Valid title
- Offer
- Vertrag
- Lohnabrechnung
- Steuererklärung (if useful)
- After graduation (§20 AufenthG)
Student checklist — before accepting a job
- Aufenthaltstitel §16b with compatible work permission.
- Non-EU: track 140 days or 280 half days/year.
- Werkstudentenvertrag: max 20 h/week during semester (standard rules).
- Minimum wage respected — €13.90/h from 1 January 2026.
- Steuer-ID — Required for payslips.
Work rules during studies
| Profile | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Non-EU student | 140 days or 280 half days | Annual count — not just hours/week |
| Werkstudent | 20 h/week in lectio | Reduced contributions; verify contract |
| Minijob | ≤ €603/month (2026) | Special contribution regime |
| Praktikum | Pflichtpraktikum vs voluntary | Mandatory may be unpaid within rules |
Last updated: May 2026 — Minijob-Zentrale
Typical contracts
- Werkstudentenvertrag — Part-time with employer recognising status.
- Minijob — Café, logistics, events.
- HiWi (Hilfswissenschaftler) — University research assistant.
- Werkvertrag / freiberuflich — Caution: often incompatible with study visa.
Minimum wage and Minijob (2026)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hourly minimum wage | €13.90 gross/h |
| Minijob monthly max | €603 |
| Werkstudent 20 h | approx. €1,112/month gross at minimum (indicative) |
Last updated: May 2026 — BMAS — minimum wage
Payslip and tax
- Brutto-Netto — Social contributions (~20%) + Lohnsteuer above threshold.
- Steuer-ID — On every payslip.
- Steuererklärung — Often worthwhile for low-income students (refund).
- Deadline — Usually 31 July of the following year (with adviser: February year+2).
- ELSTER — Free tax filing portal.
- Wait for Steuer-ID after Anmeldung.
- Give Steuerklasse to employer (students often class VI or I).
- Keep monthly Lohnabrechnungen.
- Consider Steuererklärung via ELSTER or Lohnsteuerhilfe.
Where to find work
- HiWi-Stellen — University site / professors.
- Jobbörse BA — Arbeitsagentur
- Indeed, StepStone, LinkedIn
- Hospitality / logistics — High demand, evening shifts.
After graduation
- §20 Abs. 3 AufenthG — Permit to seek qualified employment (up to 18 months).
- EU Blue Card — Annual salary threshold — check Make it in Germany.
Official links
Sources
Zero tolerance for new drivers; night BVG/DB services reduced outside weekends.
Quick reference
Germany is generally safe for students; main risks: theft on transport, rental scams, and cycling incidents. Central emergency number 112.
Day-to-day safety
Daily life
Common scams
Ghost rentals, fake agents, German-language “package delivery” phishing.
Emergencies
If something goes wrong
If something goes wrong
Practical rights
Lease contract governs many disputes. Mieterverein (tenants’ association) advises for a fee in German.
Deep dive (optional)
Go deeper
Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.
Employment patterns (summary)
| Pattern | Note |
|---|---|
| Minijob | Monthly earnings threshold updated yearly—check current € limit and insurance effects |
| Midijob | Graduated social contributions between lower and upper thresholds |
| Working student (Werkstudent) | Enrolled students: classic 120 full days / 240 half days rule for many non-EU cases—confirm with your Ausländerbehörde |
| Standard employment | Written Arbeitsvertrag; probation, hours, and leave under law and company agreements |
Minimum wage & payslips
Statutory minimum wage
Set under the Minimum Wage Act; higher sector minima can exist via collective agreements.
Federal Employment Agency
Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), job placements, and training programmes—online or in branch.
Works council (Betriebsrat)
In larger workplaces the works council co-determines many changes—ask HR whether one exists.
Non-EU students working
Stay within your residence permit’s work limits; exceeding them can jeopardise your permit.
This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.